Annals for Hospitalists Inpatient Notes - Managing Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in the Hospital Setting—A Call for Research
Authors: Tessa L. Steel
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2022)

Web ExclusivesNovember 2022Annals for Hospitalists Inpatient Notes - Managing Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in the Hospital Setting—A Call for ResearchTessa L. Steel, MD, MPHTessa L. Steel, MD, MPHUniversity of Washington, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington (T.L.S.).Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M22-2864 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail The consequences of alcohol use disorder are common in hospitals, where 15% to 30% of patients have an alcohol-related condition (1). Rates of inpatient alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) increased by 34% in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with 2019 (2). Hospitalized patients who have AWS are primarily admitted for other reasons, which complicates treatment (1). Despite the prevalence of AWS in hospitalized patients, optimal therapy remains uncertain. Adequately powered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating treatments for AWS in patients with acute illness are lacking. Thus, inpatient providers have relied on evidence for AWS treatment derived from other treatment settings, ...References1. Steel TL, Afshar M, Edwards S, et al. Research needs for inpatient management of severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome: an official American Thoracic Society research statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021;204:e61-87. [PMID: 34609257] doi:10.1164/rccm.202108-1845ST CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Sharma RA, Subedi K, Gbadebo BM, et al. Alcohol withdrawal rates in hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4:e210422. [PMID: 33656526] doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0422 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Kaim SC, Klett CJ, Rothfeld B. Treatment of the acute alcohol withdrawal state: a comparison of four drugs. Am J Psychiatry. 1969;125:1640-6. [PMID: 4890289] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Saitz R, Mayo-Smith MF, Roberts MS, et al. Individualized treatment for alcohol withdrawal: a randomized double-blind controlled trial. JAMA. 1994;272:519-23. [PMID: 8046805] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Monte R, Rabuñal R, Casariego E, et al. Analysis of the factors determining survival of alcoholic withdrawal syndrome patients in a general hospital. Alcohol Alcohol. 2010;45:151-8. [PMID: 20075027] doi:10.1093/alcalc/agp087 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Tessa L. Steel, MD, MPHAffiliations: University of Washington, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington (T.L.S.).Disclosures: The author has reported no disclosures of interest. The form can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M22-2864.Corresponding Author: Tessa L. Steel, MD, MPH, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9th Avenue, Campus Box 359762, Seattle, WA 98104; e-mail, [email protected]edu. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAnnals for Hospitalists - November 2022 David H. Wesorick Metrics November 2022Volume 175, Issue 11Page: HO2-HO3KeywordsAlcoholismBenzodiazepinesHospital medicineHospitalizationsInpatients ePublished: 15 November 2022 Issue Published: November 2022 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2022 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...